First group of pilgrims arrives at Namugongo

By Simon Masaba & Vivian Agaba

KAMPALA - With the annual Uganda Martyrs’ celebrations just under two weeks away, the first group of pilgrims from St. Kaggwa Parish in Bushenyi district has arrived at the shrine in Namugongo after walking 283 kilometres.

With the eldest walker aged 89 and the youngest 23, the group of 14 Christians completed a 15-day trek on Thursday.

They started their pilgrimage on May 7 at 8pm local time and throughout their journey, they would only take a break late in the night at various parishes, according to their leader.

Led by 89-year-old Belnaldo Tibyangye, they entered the gates of Namugongo a few minutes before noon amid drumming and singing of hymns.

Even after the exhausting days on the road, the pilgrims smiled gleefully, with basic luggage on their backs, as they reached their destination.

Held every June 3 at the Uganda Martyrs' Shrine, Namugongo, the Uganda Martyrs' Day celebrations always attract hundreds of thousands of Christians from near and afar in memory of the young Catholic and Anglican martyrs who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda for their allegiance to their faith.

‘Journey was good’

This year’s first arrivals were welcomed warmly by Fr. Joseph Mukasa Muwonge, the promoter of the devotion to the Uganda martyrs, Kampala Diocese, who then ushered them into the church where the pilgrims immediately went on their knees and began praying.

The elderly Tinyangye, a father of 16, said their journey was good save for one day of rain.

“There were no challenges on the way except one day when we were hit by rain. Otherwise the journey was good. We always met good Samaritans that gave us drinking water or money to buy food on the way,” said the group leader.

Another walker, 56-year-old Hellen Kamasanyu said she has been sick with malaria and she hopes by the time she returns home, God will have healed her.

Maria Angelica Katibesigwa, 81, also part of the first group, said she same to pray for her children so that they have successful marriages.

This time round, the celebrations will be led by Lira diocese and the main celebrant will be the bishop of Lira diocese, Bishop Joseph Frazelli.
 

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Lira Diocese pilgrims at Kigumba in Masindi district on their way to Namugongo in Kampala. (Credit: Abou Kisige)

Security matters

Meanwhile, unlike in the past, the police have gazetted car parking spots in a move aimed at decongesting the venue and easing traffic flow.

The head of police operations, Felix Kaweesi told Journalists at the Police headquarters in Naguru that no motorist will be allowed to park at the roadside along the Kyaliwajjala- Namugongo-Sonde stretch.

Four gazetted parking lots have been secured and will be guarded by police. They include; Namboole national stadium, Sonde road, green hill (Buwate road) and the Northern by-pass.

According to Kaweesi, the spots have a 500-plus vehicle parking capacity.

The presence of these spots means that on that day, pilgrims will park their vehicles and walk to the Catholic and protestant shrines or use specific buses that police will vet and allow to transport passengers at a negotiated fee.

Kaweesi said the move was aimed at enabling security agencies to effectively prepare for the safety of pilgrims.

The Martyrs Day being a high value target for terrorist groups because of its crowds, security agencies will deploy heavily to ensure safety and defuse any attempt of terror, said the police boss.

Other security facilities including improved lighting system, police mobile communication and surveillance vans fitted with long range visual cameras, mobile police cells to detain any suspected criminals and petty thieves will also be put in place.

“Also, emergency response equipment will be available to ensure that everyone is safe.”

Kaweesi called for cooperation of guests, and locals will have to adhere to strict traffic guidelines with no cars other than those with accreditation accessing the shrines.

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Lira Diocese pilgrims at Kigumba in Masindi district on their way to Namugongo in Kampala. (Credit: Abou Kisige)

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Hundreds of thousands of Christians make pilgrimmage to the martyrs' shrines in Namugongo every year. (Credit: Abou Kisige)